Re: Got a new computer, need help

**Lorian** · 11-14-2006, 07:15 PM

To put is simply, on-board graphics suck. Any kind of modern game isn't going to run well with on-board graphics. When I first built this computer I'm on right now I bought a 6200, didn't look great, but it worked relatively well on low and was cheap.

So as a temporary solution you could get a cheap card ($40-$50), and when you have more money, get a better one and sell your current one. I now have a 6800XT. It can't run on high, but it looks pretty damn good on medium/2x AA/1280x1024 with a good frame rate.

By the, a 300W PSU may be a little weak, but I don't know anything else about your setup so I can't really say.

**RocketPunch** · 11-14-2006, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lorian

To put is simply, on-board graphics suck. Any kind of modern game isn't going to run well with on-board graphics. When I first built this computer I'm on right now I bought a 6200, didn't look great, but it worked relatively well on low and was cheap.

So as a temporary solution you could get a cheap card ($40-$50), and when you have more money, get a better one and sell your current one. I now have a 6800XT. It can't run on high, but it looks pretty damn good on medium/2x AA/1280x1024 with a good frame rate.

By the, a 300W PSU may be a little weak, but I don't know anything else about your setup so I can't really say.

Yeah, you will probably be looking at a new PSU too when you get a new card. 300W will not cut it.

**Black_V!per** · 11-14-2006, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by RocketPunch

Yeah, you will probably be looking at a new PSU too when you get a new card. 300W will not cut it.

Poor Tinker, all you want to do is play your games, and you find that you need to keep buying new things just to be able to get them to run...

Good new's a 500w power supply ranges from "Free" to 150 bucks. Of course the Free one is limited in the since you'll have to find the right rebates at the right times. Check newegg.com (Keep in mind quality and AMPs on the 12V rail)

A graphics card is the same way, since you've probably got PCIe the cards also run from really inexpensive to MEGA expensive... ($50-$700)
newegg.com has some of the best deals, make sure you have PCIe before, it would suck to find out you only have AGP or worse, normal PCI...

**Tempus** · 11-14-2006, 09:53 PM

I can't believe that someone would make a dual-core with 2gigs and put an integrated vid card on it. And a 300w PSU to boot.

Who's the manufacturer of that thing? Maybe they forgot to include the vid card. Perhaps this is a business machine?

**Black_V!per** · 11-15-2006, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Tempus

I can't believe that someone would make a dual-core with 2gigs and put an integrated vid card on it. And a 300w PSU to boot.

Who's the manufacturer of that thing? Maybe they forgot to include the vid card. Perhaps this is a business machine?

Now that you say that im eager to know myself.

**Tinker** · 11-15-2006, 12:38 AM

It's an HP. I would have rather built one myself but my parents bought it, and I don't turn down free. It's wonderful except for the underpowered graphics.

**Melee** · 11-15-2006, 03:44 AM

More specific info would help us determine what your best course of action is.

**Iamthefallen** · 11-15-2006, 09:35 AM

Tinker, if you don't mind sharing, can you post the specs and price of the machine?

That'd tell us the ballpark you'd be looking for if you were to return it.

**Tinker** · 11-15-2006, 03:56 PM

Yeah, I don't do this much. Hardware isn't normally my thing.

It's a "m7470n HP media Center PC" and it has

Amd Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor
2.0 GB DDR ram
300GB 7200rpm hard drive
Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Graphics card

The machine runs pretty well, the graphics card is just not upto par. I can run most "Steam" games with no problem. But I was hoping to play BF2. In the next few days I'm either returning the machine for a new one, or the service plan and using the $100 on a video card.

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